Aim To compare the anxiolytic effects of reduced metabolite of progesterone and benzodiazepine.Methods The effects of allopregnanolone and diazepam on spontaneous locomotor activity and on exploration in the elevated plus_maze were studied in C57 mice 20 min after vehicle or drug intraperitoneal administration. Results Allopregnanolone (0.1 mg?kg-1, ip) elicited marked anxiolytic effects in terms of significantly reducing the latency to enter the open arm from (31.30?8.39)s to (8.80?6.00)s, (P